Boys' BB: Vikings win three titles in a row

By Jessika Morgan / The Free Press

Published: Saturday, March 15, 2014 at 11:30 PM.

“(Brandon and Andrew) put us on their back,” said Perry Tyndall, who became 2-0 on the championship stage in his two years as Kinston’s head coach. “It’s almost tough, unfair expectations every year, but they find a way to be business-like and get in these situations.

“There’s no guarantee to get here.”

Kinston trailed by one at halftime. Lopez stole possession and took the ball down for a layup at the buzzer to put the Vikings behind, 28-27.

The second quarter was powered by North Rowan’s Jalen Sanders, who finished with 19 points and seven rebounds. His ability to shoot off the dribble, including all three of his shots from behind the arc, carried the Cavaliers in the period. He had a game-best 10 points in the second quarter.

“They knocked down shots and then they started getting it the rim,” Tyndall said of the Cavs. “We were struggling a little bit defensively and they presented so much trouble.”

North Rowan led for nearly half of the third quarter, when the squads began trading baskets. But an Ingram slam clinched momentum for the Vikings.

He recovered a nearly-stripped ballbefore jamming it down and triggering ear-shattering cries from the crowd at Reynolds. Ingram was fouled on the basket, and threwhis arms up to encourage more cheers before he converted the three-point play.

RALEIGH — Seven-hundred ninety-eight basketball teams in North Carolina started the season at some time in the fall of 2013.

There were 512 that had the chance to play for a championship once NCHSAA playoffs began; 64 teams made regionals.

But when it came down to the 2A boy’s title: there could only be one.

Kinston basketball, once again, made history.

The Vikings defeated North Rowan, 67-57, for the NCHSAA 2A state championship Saturday at Raleigh’s Reynold’s Coliseum — marking their third consecutive title.

According to NCHSAA, Kinston is sixth association team to win three finals in a row in 100 years of state championship games.

Kinston’s junior Brandon Ingram led the game with 28 points and 16 rebounds — 13 on the offensive glass — to earn MVP honors. His performance from the line down the stretch lifted Kinston over the Cavaliers by double digits. Ingram was 13-of-15 from the charity stripe, knocking down all eight in the final quarter.

North Rowan (22-5) led for the last time with 6:52 left in the game, after Michael Conner Jr. hit a pair of free throws.

And Ingram won his second championship on Kay Yow Court Saturday.

“I did it for the seniors,” he said. “(The difference between freshman year and this year is) just building every year, role changes, just doing a little bit more each year.”

Ingram and senior guard Andrew Lopez were the only third-quarter scorers for Kinston, when the Vikings led, 50-46.

But it came down to free throws, as North Rowan trailed by as few as two entering the final three minutes. Going 50 percent from the line in the ending period spoiled a comeback. The Cavaliers went 11-for-20 on their free throw efforts for the entire game.

Kinston sophomore Mikel Davis nailed two of four down the stretch, one of which put Kinston up by the final margin 10.

Lopez recorded 27 points, including four 3-pointers to lead the game and earn the Most Outstanding Player award.

“(Brandon and Andrew) put us on their back,” said Perry Tyndall, who became 2-0 on the championship stage in his two years as Kinston’s head coach. “It’s almost tough, unfair expectations every year, but they find a way to be business-like and get in these situations.

“There’s no guarantee to get here.”

Kinston trailed by one at halftime. Lopez stole possession and took the ball down for a layup at the buzzer to put the Vikings behind, 28-27.

The second quarter was powered by North Rowan’s Jalen Sanders, who finished with 19 points and seven rebounds. His ability to shoot off the dribble, including all three of his shots from behind the arc, carried the Cavaliers in the period. He had a game-best 10 points in the second quarter.

“They knocked down shots and then they started getting it the rim,” Tyndall said of the Cavs. “We were struggling a little bit defensively and they presented so much trouble.”

North Rowan led for nearly half of the third quarter, when the squads began trading baskets. But an Ingram slam clinched momentum for the Vikings.

He recovered a nearly-stripped ballbefore jamming it down and triggering ear-shattering cries from the crowd at Reynolds. Ingram was fouled on the basket, and threwhis arms up to encourage more cheers before he converted the three-point play.

The score was tied four times before Kinston sealed the final lead and pulled away from a hard-hittingCavaliers club, which was the west’s No. 10 seed. North Rowan defeated six of NCPreps.com top 10 teams to get to the title game for the third time in school history.

The Cavaliers won a 1A title in 2011.

“I thought the guys played great,” said North Rowan coach Andrew Mitchell of his group. “They made some mistakes … but I thought we fought as hard as we could fight.”

Kinston ended its season and topped off a 15-game winning streak with a championship.

“Our guys battled their rear ends off today,” Tyndall said. “It wasn’t the prettiest at times, but you know what we found a way to win.”